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respond.io API Essential Guide

Aug 18, 20246 minute read

What type of API does respond.io provide?

Key API Types

  1. REST (Representational State Transfer) API:

    • Uses standard HTTP methods like GET, POST, PUT, DELETE
    • Typically returns data in JSON format
    • Stateless and scalable
    • Widely used for web services and mobile applications
  2. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) API:

    • Uses XML for message format
    • More rigid and formal structure
    • Often used in enterprise environments and for financial services
  3. GraphQL API:

    • Query language for APIs
    • Allows clients to request specific data
    • Provides a single endpoint for multiple resources
    • Useful for complex data requirements and reducing over-fetching

Best Practices

  • When choosing an API type, consider factors like:

    • The specific needs of your application
    • Performance requirements
    • Complexity of data structures
    • Scalability needs
    • Security requirements
  • Research the specific API documentation of the service you're integrating with to determine its API type and usage guidelines.

Without specific information about respond.io's API, I cannot definitively state which type they use. To find out, you would need to check respond.io's official API documentation or contact their support team directly.

Does the respond.io API have webhooks?

Does respond.io have webhooks?

Yes, respond.io does offer webhook functionality.

What types of events can you subscribe to?

According to the documentation, respond.io offers the following webhook events:

  • Conversation Closed
  • New Contact
  • New Outgoing Message
  • New Incoming Message
  • Contact Updated
  • Conversation Opened
  • Contact Assignee Updated
  • Contact Tag Updated
  • New Comment

Key points about respond.io webhooks:

  • Webhooks allow you to receive real-time platform updates from respond.io.
  • You can connect your webhook URL (REST endpoint) with the respond.io platform.
  • This allows you to synchronize relevant events with your CRMs, databases, and other systems.
  • Webhooks are configured in the Workspace Settings under Integrations > Webhooks.
  • You need to provide an Endpoint URL and select the Webhook Event you want to subscribe to.
  • Webhooks may be automatically disabled if there are too many failed attempts (over 30 errors in 30 minutes).
  • Your endpoint must return a 200 OK response within 5 seconds to avoid errors.

In summary, respond.io offers robust webhook functionality that allows you to subscribe to a variety of conversation and contact-related events, enabling real-time integration with external systems and automation of workflows.

Rate Limits and other limitations

Here are the key points about the API rate limits for respond.io based on the search results:

Rate Limit for Custom Channels

  • The rate limit for a Custom Channel on respond.io is set at 20 requests per second.

Rate Limits for Specific Channels

  • WhatsApp Cloud API: The broadcast rate limit has been increased from 10 to 80 messages per second.

  • 360dialog (WhatsApp provider): The broadcast rate limit has been doubled from 10 to 20 messages per second.

Key Points to Consider

  • Rate limits apply to API calls and are intended to prevent overloading of the system.

  • Different channels and endpoints may have different rate limits.

  • Exceeding rate limits typically results in requests being rejected or throttled.

Best Practices

  • Monitor the rate limit headers in API responses to track remaining requests.

  • Implement exponential backoff when rate limits are exceeded.

  • Distribute requests over time rather than sending in bursts when possible.

  • Consider using bulk endpoints for large numbers of operations where available.

While the search results don't provide comprehensive information on all respond.io API rate limits, they do give some specific examples for certain channels. For the most up-to-date and complete information on rate limits, it's best to consult the official respond.io API documentation.

Latest API Version

Based on the search results provided, I could not find a specific mention of the most recent version number of the respond.io API. However, I can provide some relevant information about recent updates to respond.io and its API:

Key Points:

  1. API 2.0 was launched in October 2022. This version introduced several improvements over the previous API iteration, including:

    • Workspace-level access tokens instead of Channel-specific tokens
    • Ability to use Contact IDs, phone numbers, and email addresses as identifiers
    • New capabilities like creating/updating contacts, messaging on different channels, and managing conversations
  2. In August 2024, respond.io made improvements to their API performance and security:

    • Upgraded their Content Delivery Network (CDN) configuration
    • Enhanced DDoS protection
    • Increased security and stability
  3. The most recent major update mentioned is Respond 3.0, announced in June 2024. While this update focuses on user interface improvements, it may also include API enhancements.

Best Practices:

  1. Always refer to the official respond.io developer documentation for the most up-to-date information on API versions and features.

  2. When integrating with the respond.io API, use the latest available version to take advantage of new features and improvements.

  3. Keep an eye on the respond.io changelog and release notes for any updates or changes to the API.

While I couldn't provide the exact version number you asked for, this information should give you an overview of the recent developments in the respond.io API. For the most accurate and current information, I recommend checking the official respond.io developer documentation or contacting their support team directly.

How to get a respond.io developer account and API Keys?

To get a developer account for respond.io and create an API integration, follow these steps:

Getting Started

  1. You'll need a respond.io account on the Growth Plan or higher, as the Developer API is only available for those plans.

  2. Log in to your respond.io workspace.

Accessing the Developer API

  1. Navigate to the Settings module in your respond.io workspace.

  2. Click on "Integrations" under Workspace Settings.

  3. Look for the "Developer API" option and click on it.

Creating an API Token

  1. On the Developer API page, click "Add Access Token".

  2. This will generate a new API token that you'll need to access the API endpoints.

Key Points to Consider

  • Keep your API token secure, as it provides access to your respond.io account.
  • The Developer API allows you to automate messages, sync CRMs, and trigger Workflows.
  • You may need to use a contact identifier (email or phone number) for most scenarios when integrating with other platforms.

Best Practices

  • Regularly review and rotate your API tokens for security.
  • Familiarize yourself with the API documentation to understand the available endpoints and their usage.
  • When integrating with other platforms, ensure you have the necessary contact information in respond.io to complete the integration successfully.

By following these steps, you'll be able to access the Developer API and create integrations with respond.io. Remember to refer to the official documentation for detailed information on API usage and best practices.

What can you do with the respond.io API?

Based on the information provided in the search results, here is a list of data models you can interact with using the respond.io API, along with what is possible for each:

Contacts

  • Import contacts
  • Merge duplicate contact profiles
  • Sync contacts with CRM systems
  • Update contact information

Messages

  • Send messages across various channels (SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, etc.)
  • Automate message responses
  • Trigger actions based on received messages
  • Broadcast promotional messages or newsletters

Conversations

  • Manage customer conversations
  • Route chats to suitable agents
  • Automate conversation workflows
  • Access conversation history

Users

  • Add or remove user seats
  • Manage user access to workspaces
  • Retrieve user information

Workspaces

  • Create and manage multiple workspaces
  • Configure workspace settings

Channels

  • Connect and configure messaging channels
  • Create custom channel configurations

Workflows

  • Create and manage automated workflows
  • Trigger workflows based on specific events or conditions

Reports

  • Access basic reporting data
  • Retrieve analytics on message data and conversations

Webhooks

  • Create incoming webhooks
  • Build webhook events for integration with other systems

Security Features

  • Implement phone number and email masking
  • Set up Single Sign-On (SSO)

Custom Integrations

  • Execute HTTP requests for custom integrations
  • Connect with other business software and CRMs

This list covers the main data models and functionalities that can be interacted with using the respond.io API, based on the information provided in the search results. The API allows for comprehensive management of customer communication, contact data, and integration with other business systems.